comment

VALHALLA, N.Y.  Westchester County will remember those who were lost on Sept. 11, 2001 by honoring them in a ceremonial fashion and by giving back to the community.

For the second year in a row, Westchester will hold a candlelight ceremony at twilight adjacent to the 9/11 memorial "The Rising" at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla. Many elected officials such as County Executive Rob Astorino as well as many family members of those who died in the terrorist attacks are expected to be in attendance.

Last year, a similar ceremony was held at the plaza to commemorate the 10th anniversary and this year Astorino and the county believes it is important to remember them in a different way.

Paying tribute through service to the community is the express wish of the families of the victims of 9/11," Astorino said in a statement. There are projects for everyone and we hope to attract people of all ages to give back to their community through these local organizations."

The volunteer events will start on Sunday and run through Sept. 15. On Sept. 11, a food drive and card-making project for deployed soldiers will be held at Kensico Dam Plaza from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Sept. 12, there will be a project to clean up Cranberry Lake Preserve in Valhalla from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. as well as a blood drive at the Westchester County Center in White Plains from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

"Selflessness, generosity, spirit and pride united us after that horrific day, said Alisa Kesten, executive director of The Westchester Volunteer Center. With this concentrated week of projects this year, we hope to rekindle those feelings with positive acts of volunteerism to address local needs."

The candlelight ceremony on Sept. 11 at Kensico Dam will begin at 7 p.m. All events are open to the public.

For more information on any event in your area, visit westchestergov.com.